The brawn of the operation

Here's a great thing to have around.  Besides holding your Mini Mag-Lite, this flashlight holster has little pockets for holding batteries and spare bulbs.  They are virtually indestructible and can be machine washed over and over.  We'll try to find a link for you to purchase one.

The engine room is the largest space in a tugboat.

It is, as the name implies, the room where the engines are mounted and operated.  These would be the main engines that propel the tug and the generator engines that supply the tug with all of the electrical power needed.

Typically, one person runs the engine room.  Since most tugboats require a person whose chief duty it is to take care of the engines and machinery, the job title is Chief Engineer.  The crew will usually call him "Chief".

The Chief may be a licensed engineer, or on smaller boats he can be unlicensed.  Unlicensed engineers are usually deckhands with a lot of engine experience and a good knowledge of the particular tug they work on.  This position is the preparation for an engine license.

He may have assistants depending on the size of the tugboat he works on.  Larger ocean-going tugs usually carry an assistant engineer.  Again, they may be licensed or they may carry a QMED endorsement on their Z-card.  Sometimes they are unlicensed and may be a very experienced deck hand chosen by the managers to assist and work towards a license.

Every engine room in a tugboat is the place to find tools and, quite often, good ideas for getting a job done. In this engine room you'll find links to great gadgets and tools to make the life of a boatman simpler. Also, there is a list of tips and tricks to be shared around the fleet.

Save water aboard your tug.  Here's how. 

Saving water on a small boat is important. They just can't carry that much. Here are some ways to do it:

Use a dishwasher if possible.  Typically, each crewmember washes his own dinnerware after each meal.  This means the sink is running more than it really has to.  Even washing all of the dishes at one time in a sink can add up to a lot of rinse water flowing over the side.  A dishwasher uses only about eight gallons (approximate and variable) of water to do an entire days' dishes.  It also sanitizes them, making for a cleaner galley.

Use front loading clothes washers.  A front loading washing machine may be more expensive (about $400 for a basic model) than a top loading model but the water savings are worth it.  A front loader uses only 40 percent of the water of a top loader.  Also, they can be used in any weather so they don't need to be replaced as often as a top loader, which is susceptible to damage if operated during rough seas.

Use pressure washers for washing down the boat.  Washing the tug is nearly a ritual activity of the deck crew.  Most of the time, a garden hose is used and, like while washing dishes, the rinse water needed can amount to a lot of wasted water.  A small electric pressure washer can very effectively rinse a boat down using only a fraction of the water as a garden hose.  It also does a great job as a water broom, moving larger piles of dirt and grit than a garden hose can.

The price of these three items combined is much less expensive than the fees for water at state docks.  The time the crew spends setting up hoses and watering a tug can be better spent on useful maintenance.  Not to mention that if this tedious chore is reduced by a few times, it helps make a happy crew and that means less complaining to the office.  Think about it.

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